News in South Africa 22nd January: 1. High interest rates crushing households: Economist and independent analyst Dr Roelof Botha said the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) high interest rates have created a “self-inflicted pandemic” in the country as households struggle to get by. Botha’s comments were made in light of the Altron FinTech Household Resilience Index for […]
News in South Africa 17th January: 1. Social unrest warning: South Africa is becoming increasingly fragile as it loses key social cohesion functions, risking increased violence, dissatisfaction and social unrest. This is the view of Wits governance expert Professor Alex van den Heever, who told SABC News that South Africa is showing an increase in fragility. His […]
News in South Africa 5th December: 1. Load shedding causing mass unemployment: Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said over 800,000 South Africans stand to lose their jobs due to load-shedding. The Minister recently spoke to Eskom employees at Medupi Power Station, which recently experienced several breakdowns that plunged the company into elevated load-shedding levels. “When Medupi coughs, […]
News in South Africa 30th October: 1. Midterm budget this week: As Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana prepares to deliver his mid-term budget speech this week, he said that if the country doesn’t cut expenditure and increase borrowing, it will be out of cash by the end of March 2024. He made the comments at […]
News in South Africa 9th October: 1. Egg rationing in full swing: The Competition Commission supports the rationing of eggs and chicken, but experts warn it can lead to serious problems. Over the last few weeks, an avian flu outbreak in South Africa caused egg and chicken shortages nationwide. In response to these shortages, retailers […]
News in South Africa 6th October: 1. Cost of living crisis: Economists have flagged South Africa’s fiscal crisis, a weakening rand, and the consequences of poor governance – painting a bleak future for the average South African as the cost of living crisis deteriorates. South African Reward Association member Kirk Kruger said South Africans are […]
News in South Africa 29th September: 1. Global stocks dropping: World stocks were on track for their longest losing streak in two years on Thursday as the sight of oil prices nearing $100 a barrel compounded concerns about persistently high global interest rates. There was brief respite from the dollar’s strength in currency markets, but […]
News in South Africa 4th September: 1. Social unrest warning: South Africa is at high risk of social unrest due to its high unemployment, rising inequality, and increased lawlessness. PwC senior economist Xhanti Payi told 702 that South African companies will face increased uncertainty and volatility until the country addresses its major social problems. “This is something […]
News in South Africa 22nd August: 1. Missteps impact country growth: South Africa is suffering a death by 1,000 cuts from repeated own goals, such as the country’s elevated load-shedding levels, logistical inefficiencies, and financial greylisting. Standard Bank CEO Sim Tshabalala told Newzroom Afrika that the negative impact of repeated missteps by South Africa is […]
News in South Africa 18th August: 1. Food price warning: Economists have warned that drier weather conditions and recent developments in international trade could lead to food price increases. According to Stats SA, annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages – a central reason for high headline inflation – dropped from 11.9% in May to […]
